PM to visit US in Sept end, will meet Obama

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is likely to undertake an important visit to the US from September 24 to 28.

It’s almost certain that the same trip — for addressing the UN general assembly — will also include the bilateral visit with US president Barack Obama.

Sources said there could be addition of a day or two to this itinerary, depending on president Obama’s schedule and the venue of the bilateral meeting.And to prepare the ground for the bilateral meet, US vice president Joe Biden will be visiting India in the third week of July.

With white house firmly driving the Afghan policy, Biden’s visit has greater significance in the regional context.

Besides getting India on board, more importantly US has been nudging Delhi to get Afghan president Hamid Karzai to come around for talks with the Taliban.